Collapsible window-platform.



PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

E. G. RAPE.

OOLLAPSIBLE WINDOW PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

5 van/01 3519 Gum??? I] r wwneooeo I I W PZUTENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

E. G. RAPE.

GOLLAPSIBLE WINDOW PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wtbweooeo PA TENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

E. e. RAPE. OOLLAPSIBLE WINDOW PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ERNEST G. RAFF, OF NEW YORK, N.Y.

COLLAPSIBLE WINDOW-PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed August 20. 1904. Serial No. 221,482.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEs'r Gr. RAFF, residing at New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Collapsible VVindow-Platforms, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to apparatus adapted for use as a means ofsupport upon walls, and more particularly to window-platforms.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a simple and efiicient deviceof the above type which can be compactly folded and rigidly extended.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type all parts ofwhich lie in their folded position substantially parallel to and withinthe outline of the floor.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the device herein described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown several of variouspossible embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective viewshowing one embodiment in extended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe same, showing it in a partially-collapsed form. Fig. 3 is a similarview showing the same embodiment completely folded. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective of a part of another embodiment. Fig. 5' is a perspectiveview showing another formin extended condition. Similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Preliminary to a description of the embodiments of my invention hereinset forth, it may be noted that compactness is essential in devices ofthe type with which this invention is concerned. As it is intended thatone platform he used for several windows, it is necessary that the samebe carried from window to window and possibly from building to building.The above requirements render it imperative that the platform be foldedin as small, light, and compact form as is consistent with strength andrigidity in its extended condition. Another feature which is'requisiteinconstructions of this type is that the hooks or other means upon theplatform whereby it is secured to the building are of a strongconstruction and are rigidly secured to the platform, so as to minimizethe danger of tearing loose from the same. It is also highly desirablethat the side and rear guards be sulficiently high to obviate any chanceof the user falling over the same and yet that these proportions beattained without sacrifice of the compactness and neatness of thestructure in folded condition. The above and other advantages areattained in constructions of the nature of that hereinafter described.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is represented at 1 a floor or platformproper, which is shown in this embodiment as comprising several parallelmembers, and this construction is preferred, as the chance of warping isthereby reduced and other advantages attained. The ends of the componentmembers of floor 1 rest within channel-shaped members, which may beintegral, but preferably comprise angle members 2 and straps 3, thelatter extending from front to rear entirely across the floor and beingpreferably flanged, so as to engage the rear surface thereof, and havingat their front ends hooks 4: integrally formed therewith. Straps 3 andangle members 2 are secured one to another and to the members of floor 1by meansof bolts 5, which pass through these parts, as indicated in thedrawing. Hooks): are adapted to coact with the perforated lugs 6 uponplates 7, which are secured to the building in any desired manner. Atone end of floor 1 are mounted the uprights 8 and 9, being connected tothe platform by means of hinges 10 and rigidly held in parallel positionwith refer ence one to another by means of braces 11. Hinged to theupper portions of these uprights are the extension members 12 and 13,respectively, the former being maintained in its'extended position bymeans of a springbolt 14 or other securing device. The upper ends ofextension members 12 and 13 are se cured one to another by means ofcross-piece upon uprights 19 and '20 are extension memthe platform.Braces 23 may also be probodiment of my invention is as follows.

vided, if desired, so as to stiffen the upper portions or extensionsofthe side guards. The term extension will be used herein to designatethe upper portions of the side guards comprising the extension members,crosspiece 15, and brace 23, and side guards will be used to designatethe entire uprights erected upon the ends of the floor, as aboveindicated. These terms, however, are used in a broad sense and areintended to comprehend any equivalents of the same. It may also be notedat this point that the term channel members will be used throughout thisdescription and in the following claims as designating any channelshaped member, whether integral or of. composite construction, as hereinshown and described. Pivotally connecting the upper rear portions of theextensions upon both sides of the platform is a rigid link 24 for apurpose hereinafter described. The side guards are also preferablyconnected to the rear of the platform by means of flexible cross members25, which are herein shown as composed of chains intersecting in aring-26, but may obviously be of any equivalent form, such as cords orstraps, if desired, although chains have been found to be peculiarlyadapted for the purpose in view. Bolts 27 are provided with stop-nuts 28and extend entirely through the channelshaped end members and the end ofthe floor 1 and are adapted to engage the sill in such manner as tomaintain a substantially level position of the floor irrespective of theinclination of the sill of the window or part upon which the platformrests.

The operation of the above-described em- Assuming the platform to' be infolded condition, as shown in Fig. 3, it is inserted through the windowand books 1 and placed in engagement with the perforated lugs 6, whichare secured to the wall of the building or to the window-sill in anydesired manner. The extension or upper part of the side guard,which ismounted upon blocks 18, is then raised to a position shown in Fig. 2 andis secured in such position by means of bolt 14. This movement draws theremaining side guard to a partially-extended position, as shown in Fig.2, by means of link 24, and the erection of the platform is completed bymeans of pushing this guard into the completely-extended position shownin Fig. 1 and securing it in such position by means of bolt 14:. Bolts27 are now adjusted, if necessary, so as to bring the floor into a levelposition. In this condition the side guards are braced at their upperextremities by means of link 24, so as to prevent relative movementeither toward or away one from another, and the stiffness of the entirestructure is materially increased by means of the diagonal chains 25.The platform is now in condition for use and may be used in an obviousmanner, after which it is collapsed by a series of operations which isthe reverse of that above described. It may here be noted that the wordcollapse is used throughout in a broad sense as denoting any relativemovement whereby the two parts approach one another, Whether thatmovement be folding, sliding, or telescopic. In its collapsedform it isusually removed from engagement with lugs 6 merely by means of tiltingupwardly the outer end of the platform, and it may thus be withdrawnthrough the window without endangering the user thereof.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a window-platform which is ofsimple and inexpensive construction and may be used in connection withthe windows of any building merely by securing a pair of plates to thesill or adjacent part thereof. It will also be seen that the platformherein described is rigid in its extended condition and that thisrigidity is attained without the sacrifice of lightness or compactnessof the several parts. It will also be noted that when the platform is inits folded condition the several parts lie parallel one to another andare entirely within the space outlined by the floor of the platformsMoreover the feature whereby the floor may be maintained in asubstantially level position irrespective of the inclination of the partupon which it rests is of marked importance.

The invention may be embodied in a construction similar to that abovedescribed, but differing in that the several members comprising the sideguards and connecting-link may be formed of piping, if desired. Themeans whereby this substitution may be madeshould belargely obvious, themanner of hinging two parts of piping being shown in Fig. 4: of. thedrawings. In this figure piping 29, which corresponds to the member 12in the above-described embodiment, is tapped into a socket 30, which isprovided with perforated hinge-lugs 31 at one side thereof. The piping32, corresponding to member 8, is tapped into a similarsocket 33,provided with a hingelug 34, adapted to coact with lugs 31 and form ahinge therewith, as shown in the drawings. The other changes in thefirst-described embodiment necessary in order efiiciently to use pipingin'place of the rectangular members therein shown should be largelyobvious from the above description and the construction shown in Fig. &of the drawings.

. In Fig. 5 is shown another embodiment of my invention, which difiersfrom those above described in several details. The construction of thefloor 35 is substantially the same as that of'floor 1, and it issupported, by means of hooks 36, upon straps 37 in a manner which willbe obvious from the description of the function of the correspondingmembers in the first-described embodiment. The side guard upon one sideof theplatform is mountred upon blocks 38, similar in character and 42,pivotally connected with which is a plate 43.

Secured to the upper end of the corresponding brace 39 is a hinge-plate44:, which also has a pivotal connection with the plate i3. Asubstantially identical connection is provided between the remainingbrace 39 and extension member 45. Fixed to the lower end of the innerbrace 39 is preferably a crank 46, by means of which the brace, togetherwith the remaining brace 39, which is secured. thereto by means of thestiflening members 47, may be rotated about the hinged connection withblocks 40 away from the side guards. Staples 4:8 and 49 are secured,respectively, to the extension and to the upright immediately below thesame, and through these members is thrust bolt 50, which is preferablyformed integral, by means of cross-bar 51, with a similar bolt adaptedto coact with similar parts on the remaining upright and extensionmember. Upon the opposite side of the floor 35 is mounted another sideguard which is substantially identical with that immediately abovedescribed, difiering mainly in that the braces 39 are mounted directlyupon the platform and the uprights are mounted upon short blocks 52 of aheight substantially equal to the thickness of the braces. When it isdesired to collapse this platform, the braces 39 are rotated away fromthe corresponding uprights by means of the cranks L6, and the bolts 50are withdrawn from the staples in which they are positioned. The sideguards then may be folded in a manner substantially identical with thatset forth in connection with the first-described embodiment.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of my invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, I intend that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Idesire it also to be understood that the language used in the followingclaims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features ofthe invention herein described and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claimas new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a floor, rigidframes connected to the same upon either side thereof, rigid extensionsmounted upon each of said frames, and a rigid bar pivotally connectingsaid extensions, said extensions being hinged to said frames and saidframes having a hinged connection with said floor.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a floor, rigidframes havinga hinged connection with the same upon either side thereof,rigid extensions having a hinged connection with said rigid frames, andflexible members connecting the rear portions of said extensions andsaid floor.

3. In a device of the classdescribed, in com-- bination, a floor, rigidframes having a hinged connection with the same upon either sidethereof, rigid extensions having ahinged connection with each of saidframes, flexible members connecting the rear portions of said frames andsaid extensions, and a rigid bar p'ivotall y connecting the upperportions of said extensions, said bar being adapted to swing in a planesubstantially parallel to the rear or outer edge of said floor.

4.. In a device of the class described, in combination, a floor,channel-shaped end members within which the ends of said floor areembraced, retaining devices upon said end members formed integraltherewith, bolts passing through said floor and the upper and lowerportions of said channel-shaped members,rigid frames mounted upon saidfloor at either side thereof and adapted to collapse with referencethereto, rigid extensions mounted upon said frames and having a hingedconnection therewith, and a rigid bar pivotally connected to the upperend of said extensions.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a floor havingchannel-shaped end members, retaining devices formed integral with saidend members, rigid frames having ahinged connection with said floor andmounted thereon at either side thereof, extensions mounted upon saidrigid frames, flexible connecting members diagonally connecting the rearportions of said floor with said extensions, and a rigid bar pivotallyconnecting said ex tensions.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a floor,channel-shaped end ,members having retaining means formed integraltherewith, rigid frames hinged to said floor at unequal distances fromthe plane of the lower surface thereof, rigid extensions mounted uponsaid frames, and means whereby the rear portions of said floor and saidextensions are connected.

7 In a device of the class described, in combination, a floor,channel-shaped end members within which the ends of said floor aresecured, retaining devices formed integral with said channel-shaped endmembers, rigid frames having a hinged connection with said floor atunequal distances from the plane of the lower surface thereof, rigidextensions mounted upon said frames and having a hinged connectiontherewith, a rigid member pivotally connecting said extensions, andflexible means whereby the rear portions of said extensions and saidfloor are connected.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, afloor,channel-shaped end members embracing the same and resting in contactwith the upper and lower surfaces thereof, retaining means formedintegral with said end members, adjustable screws passing through saidfloor and the upper and lower portions of said channel-shaped memberssubstantially at right angles thereto, rigid frames hinged to theopposite sides of said floor, rigid extensions hinged to said frames,and a rigid bar pivoted to said extensions.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a floor, a rigidframe hinged thereto at one side thereof, a pair of blocks rigidlysecured to said floor at the opposite side thereof, a rigid frame hingedto said blocks, rigid extensions mounted upon each of said frames andhaving hinged connection therewith, a

